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A pilot project has been launched, which aims to support Bristol children who have a parent in prison.

Children's charity Barnados are behind the scheme.  They say in a class of 30 pupils in the city, two of the students will have a mother or father behind bars.

The new service, which is costing around £180,000 is designed to help with the emotional impact of being the child of an offender, and will help deal with practical things like housing, debt and health.

A project manager and two project workers will be based in central Bristol.

Barnados say they are aiming to support the "invisible" group of disadvantaged children that often slip under the radar.

Their new service is called ECHO which stands for Empowering Children of Offenders.

A recent report carried out by the charity called 'Every Night You Cry' highlighted research showing the children of parents in prison are three times more likely to be at risk of developing antisocial behaviour or mental health problems.  They are also more likely to be living in poverty.
 
Barnardo's South West assistant director Duncan Stanway said:

"We are not condoning the actions of criminals or forgetting the impact on those affected by their crimes, but we must not neglect the invisible victims as well - the innocent children left behind when a parent is imprisoned.

"On average, two children in a class of 30 will have experienced parental imprisonment and they will almost certainly have suffered isolation, depression and financial hardship.

"Barnardo's South West has successfully managed other services at prisons across the region and has the knowledge and experience to reach out to these families and make a positive difference to their lives."
 
The report, 'She Just Cries and Cries' features several interviews with Bristol families where the father was in prison, and highlighted the impact on the children.

One mother found her son crying.  She said: "I asked him what was wrong and he said that the little boys were laughing at him, saying his dad was in prison.  They were calling him 'burglar' and stuff like that."

Another said: "Everyone at school was looking.  I'm thinking, 'It's nothing to do with me and it's nothing to do with the kids', but everyone had a little whisper as I walked past."

Another added: "There is still a stigma.  People think that everybody in the family is like that, and the school might think the children are the same as their father.  There is a lot of ignorance around."
 
ECHO project workers will make contact with families during prison visits, or they might receive a referral from other organisations including social services and youth offending teams.

Barnados say staff will visit families in their own homes to provide a wide range of support.  This could include help with improving relationships and contact with the imprisoned parent, boosting school attendance, reducing anti-social behaviour, and signposting to other services for advice on housing, health and debt.
 
Duncan added: "We know that prisoners who maintain links with their families on the outside, and who are brought back together on release, are less likely to offend.  That's much better for the individuals - and for their local community.

"Working in partnership, we can help to turn their children's lives around and encourage them to fulfil their potential."

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